thousands of millions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'thousands of millions' is a correct and usable part of written English.
For example, you could use this phrase in a sentence like this: "The fireworks display cost thousands of millions of dollars to put on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

"I'd like to have thousands of millions of shoes.

The New Yorker

"They were formed thousands of millions of years ago, deep in the earth, under unimaginable pressures".

The New Yorker

Astronomy, for example, measures the sequence of cosmic phenomena in thousands of millions of years; geology and paleontology, when tracing the evolution of Earth and of life, use similar epochs of hundreds or thousands of millions of years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Was the wavefunction of the world waiting to jump for thousands of millions of years until a single-celled living creature appeared?

The New York Times

I think we have thousands of millions of all three kinds, although the 100,000-dollar bills are the ones we like the most.

The Guardian - Books

A tall order when you need evidence of how things were hundreds or thousands of millions of years ago, but not impossible.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

8.24am GMT Summerhayes, an 18-year-old from Sheffield, will be going 10th of 12th in the final.

The Guardian - Sport

Move your working arms across your chest (3rd of 4th position, depending on your school).

WikiHow

The survey took place from 21st to 28th of May 2009.

BMC Public Health

Phalanges of the 2nd to 5th fingers of the left hand were examined.

Biogerontology

This technique measures THD and the main harmonics (3rd, 5th and 7th) of the PCC voltage for ID [24].

Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thousands of millions", consider whether "billions" might be a more concise and commonly understood alternative. If aiming for emphasis or a less formal tone, "thousands of millions" can be effective.

Common error

Avoid using "thousands of millions" when the context clearly implies a much smaller quantity. Ensure the magnitude is truly in the billions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thousands of millions" functions as a quantifier, specifying a very large number. According to Ludwig AI, this expression is used in diverse contexts, suggesting its acceptability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thousands of millions" is a valid and frequently used way to express quantities in the billions. While it is grammatically correct and understood across a wide range of contexts, including news, science, and general writing, the term "billions" is often preferred for its brevity and conciseness. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression appears across various sources, indicating its acceptability. When deciding whether to use "thousands of millions" or "billions", consider the level of emphasis you wish to convey and the formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

billions

Replaces "thousands of millions" with its numerical equivalent, providing a more concise representation of the quantity.

a multitude of millions

Substitutes "thousands" with "a multitude", emphasizing the large quantity while retaining "millions".

numerous millions

Replaces "thousands" with "numerous", indicating a significant number of millions.

vast numbers of millions

Emphasizes the immensity of the quantity by adding "vast numbers of" before "millions".

untold millions

Suggests that the number of millions is so large it is difficult to count or estimate.

countless millions

Similar to "untold millions", but emphasizes the impossibility of counting the millions.

millions upon millions

Repeats "millions" to amplify the sense of a very large quantity.

a great many millions

Uses "a great many" in place of "thousands" to indicate a large but unspecified number of millions.

enormous amounts of millions

Replaces "thousands" with "enormous amounts of", stressing the size and magnitude.

significant millions

Indicates that the millions are not just numerous but also important or impactful.

FAQs

How can I use "thousands of millions" in a sentence?

You can use "thousands of millions" to describe very large numbers, such as "The project cost "thousands of millions" of dollars".

Is "thousands of millions" the same as "billions"?

Yes, "thousands of millions" is another way of saying "billions". The term "billions" is more commonly used in modern English.

When is it appropriate to use "thousands of millions" instead of "billions"?

Use "thousands of millions" when you want to emphasize the sheer magnitude of the number or when aiming for a slightly less formal tone. However, "billions" is generally preferred for its conciseness.

Are there any alternatives to "thousands of millions" that convey a similar meaning?

Yes, alternatives include "millions upon millions", "countless millions", or simply "billions".